Line-casting machine.



J. R. ROGERS. LINE CASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909,

Patented June 21,1910. j

2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

J. R. ROGERS. LINE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

Patented June 21,1910.

UNITED STATES PAtrENtr OFFICE.

JOHN Bi ROGERS, 0F

BROOKLYN, NFW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO MERGENTHALER LINOTYIPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

Specification pf Letters Iatent.

Application filed May 18, 1909. Serial No. 496,689.

436,532, wherein matrices stored. in a magazineare selected by a finger key mechanism and composed in lines, which are transferred to a mold, to form type characters on the slugs cast therein,and thereafter transferred to a distributing mechanism, by which the individual matrices are returned to their magazine channels.

It has reference more particularly to ma chines in which two fonts or sets of matrices are employed, in which machines, in various forms, it is common to compose a line of matrices from either or both magazines at will.

Ilhe inventionconsists in improved mechanism for delivering the matrlces from the composed line to one or the other of two distributers, one for each font.

My invention comprises means for delivering the composed line endwise toward the one distributer, which receives directly the matrices belonging to one font, while those ofthe other font are transferred to a second distributerby a lifting or transferring finger, which iscontrolled as to'its length of movement by matrices.

In-the drawingsyFigure 1 is a side elevationnf mechanism in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in a modified or alternative form. Fig. 3 is a vertical section onthe line 3-'-3 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the arrow, toward the distributer bar'and screws. Fig. 4 isa vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the argow,

igs.

lower gma azine. g. 7' is a side elevation showing t e manner in which the lifting deviee isfarrested and limited inmovement when it receives a matrix designed for the the form of the respect ve;

first or lower distributer. Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the finger is released and permitted to carry a matrix for the second distributer upward thereto. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lifting finger.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, A and A" represent two stationary toothed distributer bars of the character described in Patented June 21, 1910.

the Mergenthaler Patent 347,629 commonly used in commercial Mergenthaler machines of the present day. I

B represents a distributer lift box, socalled, designed to receive the composed lines of matrices C and direct them toward the distributing devices. The matrices C are notched and toothed in the upper end as heretofore, the teeth of matrices bearing different characters being variously arranged in order that the matrices traveling along the distributer bars may be suspended therefrom until they arrive over the proper channels in the respective magazines, where they are released by the disengagement of their teeth, as well understood in the art.- The composd line is thus urged endwise in a horizontal position by a pusher D, being sustained by side rails E having stop shoulders near their forward ends to encounter the foremost matrix and arrest the. advance of the line.

F, 'F, F, represent three horizontal screw 1 ing adjacent to the lower distributer bar or the purpose of carrying the matrices along the same as usual;.and F, F, F, represent corresponding screws for a like purpose, ad'acent to the upper distributer.

The matrices intended for the upper discrate with the lifting finger hereinafter described. The matrices for the lower magazine, however, as shown in Fig. 6, are constructed without the notches.

H represents a vertically movable lifting finger having a transverse shoulder it near the upper end in order gthat it may engage beneath the foremost matrices of the line one at a time and carr them upward, away from the line, for delivery to the distribu- 'Ihis finger is provided on the forward tributer or the other, according to the shape nected thereto by a spring h which urges sure-shoe J. The next matrix which is side with a shoulder or projection la de-[ signed to engage with a stop k which will limit its upward movement. The finger is pivoted to its actuating lever 11, and conthe finger constantly toward the matrix line, so that when it descends the shoulder may pass beneath the foremost matrix in position to lift the same as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This finger is provided on the right hand side above the lifting shoulder with lips or projections it corresponding to the recesses in the matrices for the upper magazlne.

If the matrix appearing at the forward end of the line-belongs in the lower magazine and is without notches, as shown in Fig. ('5, it will act against the side faces of the lips 7L5 and rock the finger forward until its lip 72. passes beneath the stop if, as shown in Fig.' 7. This will limit the upward movement of the finger H, and the matrix will be lifted a short distance only, suflicient to clear the detaining rails which pass between the lower distributor screws by which the matrices will be advanced along the lower distributer bar so that they may be delivered therefrom to the appropriate channels in the lower magazine. If, however, the foremost matrix presented to the lift belongs in the upper magazine and has the notches shown in Fig. 5 the lips h of the lift will enter these notches and the lift will swing backward under the influence of spring h far enough to clear the stop h", as shown in Fig. 8, so that the lift is permitted to continue its upward course and carry the matrix upward toward the upper distributer. The matrix thus lifted clear of the lower distributer will be held against the vertical guides I subject to a spring-actuated preslifted to the upper position pushes the preceding one still farther upward, in position to engage the upper distributor screwsand pass upon the upper distributer bar A, the spring actuated pressure-device K serving to hold the matrlx forward.

The lifting finger H may be actuated in any suitableirtnner. I prefer to connect its lever h to the lifting spring h and to the depressing slide 71. the upper end of which is acted upon by a cam, h, on the end of one of the distributer screws. By this -arrangement the finger is depressed positively but is lifted by a spring action. This permits the arrest of the finger at the lower level as before described- The essence of the mechanism above described lies in the fact that the lifting devices carry the matrices from the line to one level or another, that is to say to one disof the matrices, which latter control the travel of the lifting or transferringdevices.

Instead of using a single lift in the manner above described I may adopt the construction shown in Fig. 2, which is similar in all respects to that above described except that a second lifting finger, H, is provided, its lower end being made of hooked form and its vertical travel being so regulated that it will engage beneath those matrices which have been raised clear of the first distributer by the lift H and carry them upward to the second distributer. The lever It carrying the second lift is prged in one direction by a spring 71. and in the op posite direction by the before mentioned cam 71. which operates the first lifting finger. In this second form of apparatus the matrices designed for the lower distributer push the finger H forward so that its ascent is limited by the stop, while the matrices designed for the upper distributer permit the finger to lift the matrices clear of the lower distributor and into position to be engaged by the upper finger H, which in turn raises them to the second distributer.

It will be observed that in my mechanism the matrices control devices which, in turn, control, independently of the matrices, the travel of the parts which lift the matrices fromthe composed line. i

I believeit to be wholly new in the art to combine with matrix-carrying devices having a variable length of movement, means to control the length of such movement, such means being in turn controlled by the matrices, which do not in themselves act as stop devices.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism for distributing matrices, a movable device for advancing the individual matrices, and means controlled by the matrices and acting in turn to limit the travel of the advancing device.

2. In a matrix distributing mechanism, means for presenting a composed line' of matrices, a carrier for delivering the individual matrices from the line, said carrier having a variable length of movement, and means for directly controlling the length of movement of said carrier, said means adapted to be controlled by matrices of certain forms.

3. In a matrix distributing mechanism, means for advancing the composedline of matrices endwise, a transversely movable. carrier to remove the matrices one at atime,

and means other than the matrices for autocating finger to advance the individual matrices, matrices of different forms, means for" presenting such matrices one at a time to thecarrier, and means distinct from the matrices for determining the length of movement of the carrier according to the form of the matrix presented. thereto.

5. In a matrix distributing mechanism, and in combination, a reciprocating carrier to'advance the individual matrices, said carrier movable transversely in relation to its path of reciprocation, means for presenting the matrices individually to said carrier, matrices differing in form and adapted to give the carrier different positions laterally, and means for limiting the movement of the carrier according to its lateral position.

6. In combination, the reciprocating finger pivoted to move laterally, spring connections for advancing the finger, means' for resenting the matrices individually to the nger, matrices differing in form at their point of contact with the finger, andmeans for limiting the advance of the finger when it is moved laterally fromits normal position.

7 A matrix guide finger H and spring connections for advancing the same in the operative direction, in combination with a stop device to arrest the finger'at an intermediate point in its path when moved laterally from its normal position.

8. In combination with means for delivering a matrix line endwise thereto, the finger H for removing the matrices individually from the line, spring connections for advancing the finger endwise in an operative direction, and a stop device to limit the advance ofthe finger in advance of its final position.

9. In combination, means for presenting a composed line of matrices, two distributing mechanisms, a carrier for advancing the individual matrices from-the line to the distributers, and automatic means for limiting the travel of the carrier according to the form of the matrix presented thereto;

whereby the one carrier is enabled to feed both distributers.

10. In combination,means for presenting a composed line of matrices, a carrier for removing the matrices successively from the line, two distributers in the path of the car-- rier, matrices of different forms, and means for arresting the carrier at one point or another according to the form of the matrix on which it is acting.

11. In combination, two parallel distributers, means for sustaining a composed line of matrices and advancing the same endwise, and carrier devices acting to remove the matrices successively from the end of the line in a straight path to the respective distributers.

12. In combination with two parallel distributers, means for presenting a composed line of matrices endwise, a reciprocating carrier for transferring the individual matrices from the line to the first distributer, and a second carrier acting to'transfer the matrices in a continuation of their original path from the first carrier to 'the second distributer.

13. In a distributing mechanism, the combination of the reciprocating and laterally movable finger H having lips It, means for moving the same, a stop h to limit its advance, and matrices with and without notches; whereby the finger is caused to movematrices of different forms to differentpoints.

14:. Ina line castingmachine, and in combination with notched matrices and matrices without notches, a carrier device having projections to enter the notches, and means to limit the movement of the carrier when the unnotched matrices are presented thereto.

15. In a distributer, the combination of the pivoted reciprocating finger H having lips 72, and a stop h to engage the nger and'limit its advance in an operative direction.,

16. In combination with the two distributers, the two carrier fingers H and H, one arranged to deliver matrices to the other,

and means for presenting matrices individually to the first named finger.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of May, 1909, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS.

W ltnessc-sz DAVID S. KENNEDY, LUCY E. SMITH. 

